What you should know about laparoscopy for endometriosis

If you are suffering from infertility; chronic pelvic pain around your period; or pain during sex, bowel movements or urination, you might have endometriosis. One in 10 women, especially during their 30s and 40s, develop this condition. Our San Antonio OBGYNs have the experience and skill to expertly diagnose and treat endometriosis. One of the tools our physicians use is laparoscopy for endometriosis.

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus, known as the endometrium, grows outside the uterus in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the bladder or the bowel.

Diagnosing endometriosis

When diagnosing endometriosis, our team begins by taking a medical history and performing a physical exam. They may order an ultrasound or MRI. If they see signs of endometriosis, laparoscopy allows physicians to view the uterus and perform a biopsy.

During a laparoscopic diagnosis, our physicians make a small incision in the abdomen. They fill the abdomen with CO2 gas to lift the abdomen away from the pelvic organs, which provides them with a better view. Surgeons attach a camera to the laparoscope, a thin, lighted tube, to view the organs. They sometimes make one or two additional small incisions where they can insert surgical instruments to perform a tissue biopsy or treat the condition. Diagnosis and treatment may take place during the same procedure.

Minimally invasive surgery for endometriosis

If medication won’t fully treat your endometriosis, you may need surgery to remove the endometriosis tissue. Laparoscopy for endometriosis is a minimally invasive surgery. Our San Antonio OBGYNs perform the surgery using instruments inserted into the small abdominal incisions. This minimally invasive approach offers several benefits over open abdominal surgery.

• Less pain after surgery
• Shorter hospital stays
• Shorter recovery time
• Less risk of infection
• Less bleeding

A laparoscopy is usually outpatient surgery. Patients receive general anesthesia.

Our San Antonio OBGYNs perform laparoscopy for endometriosis

If you have symptoms of endometriosis, contact us for an appointment. Our physicians are experienced with cases of endometriosis. Diagnosing endometriosis and treating the condition helps improve your quality of life and can help you if you have fertility problems. Don’t suffer unnecessarily. Our team is here to help.

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